In the competitive market for luxury cars, brands are
continuously experimenting with new ways to reach their target
customers. Tesla (TSLA) and Cadillac are the latest automakers to rethink how cars are sold.
Tesla has a vastly different retail structure than other
manufacturers; It is the only one that sells directly to consumers,
shunning franchised dealers in favor of company-owned showrooms where
visitors can test drive a car and place an order. Now Tesla is pushing
the envelope a little more. Shoppers at The Grove, a ritzy mall in Los
Angeles, can gaze at a Model X parked inside Nordstrom (JWN)—just past the men’s suits.
Last week, the electric car maker officially opened a gallery
within Nordstrom, bringing the brand’s new crossover right to its target
customers where they shop. The boutique-style showroom, with just 400
square feet of floor space, is the first of its kind for Tesla. The
automaker has staffed the gallery with product specialists, and
interactive displays allow shoppers to explore interior and trim
options. Test drives are available in the mall’s parking lot.
“Tesla places stores and galleries in high foot traffic retail
venues like malls and shopping centers, allowing potential customers to
learn about our cars in a low-pressure environment when they’re not
thinking about buying a car,” a Tesla spokesperson said. “Our technology
is different, our car is different, and, as a result, our stores are
intentionally different.”
Tesla declined to say if there are plans to open more galleries similar to the one in Nordstrom.
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Matt DeLorenzo, managing editor for Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com,
said automakers such as Tesla want to meld the car-shopping experience
with their customers’ lifestyles. At the swanky events of Monterey Car
Week, for instance, the likes of Ferrari and Bentley fight for the
attention of car enthusiasts.
“What they’re saying is, it’s not just a car but a luxury good,”
DeLorenzo said. “As in the case of Lexus, Infiniti and European makes,
they’re trying to transform dealerships into more of a luxury retail
store, as opposed to a traditional dealership with cars out in the lot
and florescent lights inside.”
That’s exactly what Cadillac has in mind. With roughly 900
dealerships across the U.S., Cadillac has far more locations than its
German competitors, and executives want to transform a portion of those
dealerships into showrooms equipped with virtual-reality headsets. The
technology would allow customers to explore new Cadillacs without
getting behind the wheel.
Cadillac is seeking commitments from dealers, particularly
low-volume sellers, who are willing to empty their lots and go
high-tech. Virtual dealerships would continue to run service centers and
offer cars for test drives.
The plan emerged from Project Pinnacle, a new incentive program
for dealers that establishes standards for customer service and sales.
Johan de Nysschen, the former Infiniti chief who was put in charge of
Cadillac in 2014, has spearheaded Project Pinnacle in hopes of revamping
the retail experience.
“Cadillac is trying to change perceptions about the brand. It
wants to be a top-end player, not just a premium domestic brand,”
DeLorenzo said.
Cadillac is on a larger mission to remake its image. De Nysschen
moved Cadillac’s home from Detroit to New York City, saying at the time
that Cadillac would benefit from living in a large market for luxury
cars. In early June, the company opened a showroom and coffee shop,
Cadillac House, on the ground floor of its Manhattan headquarters. The
space will host vehicle displays, art exhibits and special events,
extending the Cadillac brand outside the automotive world.
The moves to revitalize the brand’s cachet coincide with the
rollout of two key vehicles: the CT6, Cadillac’s flagship sedan, and the
XT5, a crossover that replaces the SRX. Cadillac sold close to 59,000
vehicles in the U.S. during the first five months of the year, about
half the number of cars moved by Lexus, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
Tesla and Cadillac aren’t alone in their efforts to reshape the sales process. Toyota’s (
TM)
Lexus is testing a no-haggle pricing strategy at 11 dealerships that
volunteered to participate in a pilot program. Lincoln, the Ford (F)-owned
luxury brand, said it will offer a pickup and drop-off service for
owners of the new Continental sedan, replicating similar dealership
programs at BMW.
Given the close competition among luxury brands, concierge services and other perks can be the deciding factor for buyers.
“At the top end, there’s not much haggling. Customers know what
they want, and they’re willing to pay for it. The question is which
manufacturer is going to step up and offer you that extra human touch,
if you will,” DeLorenzo said
9:14 AM
Starting
March 25, 2017, luxury expedition cruise specialist Silversea will
alternate two new seven-night Galápagos itineraries approved by the
Galápagos National Park Service.
